Lee Piggott
CRIMINAL LAW DIRECTOR | FINANCIAL CRIME | POCA | SERIOUS CRIME
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About
Criminal Law Director (5 yrs PQE) specialising in POCA, financial crime and serious crime. Leads a 200+ matter department generating £1m–£1.5m annual turnover, with ~£300m aggregate POCA benefit figures handled. Firm-wide Legal Aid Supervisor driving compliance, profitability and strategic growth.
Experience
Criminal Director - TSABI - Central London
(2024-01)
Non-Equity Director. Overall strategic, operational and financial leadership of the criminal department across up to five offices, including one overseas office.
- Direct a criminal department of 25+ staff, managing P&L, compliance, recruitment and daily financial oversight of a ~£1m–£1.5m turnover practice
- Serve as firm-wide Legal Aid Supervisor across 200+ active matters; delivered most recent SQM audit with minimal findings
- Lead high-value POCA work — reduced a £9m benefit figure to £6,000 (nominal £1 order) — and oversee serious crime at the Old Bailey including terrorism and corporate fraud
Managing Director - Piggotts Consultancy Services Ltd
(2023-01)
Boutique financial crime consultancy subsequently amalgamated into the current firm's offering. Developed a specialist consultancy focused on complex financial crime and POCA matters where firms required additional expertise or capacity.
- Negotiated and strategised complex confiscation matters involving ~£300m aggregate benefit figures across approximately five years
- Collaborated with counsel, defence experts, investigators and intelligence agencies on asset tracing, hidden assets and tainted gifts
- Established consultancy as a platform for a specialist POCA and financial crime practice, open to appropriate commercial structures
Solicitor - Legal 500 Firm
(2023-07 - 2024-01)
Specialist financial crime and POCA solicitor with responsibility for complex matters and Legal Aid billing.
- Managed annual Legal Aid budgeting and POCA billing strategy to maximise departmental profitability
- Implemented firm-wide processes and training to improve POCA case billing efficiency and compliance
- Analysed complex financial data and disclosure to challenge benefit calculations, hidden assets and tainted gifts
Criminal & POCA Solicitor - Sheppards
(2023-01 - 2023-07)
- Delivered criminal and POCA litigation, Magistrates' Court advocacy, police station representation and Legal Aid billing
Criminal & POCA Solicitor - Turnocks
(2021-08 - 2023-01)
- Managed POCA department including Crown Court litigation, national files, advocacy, billing and police station compliance
Criminal Lawyer - Duncan Lewis Solicitors - Birmingham
Further details available on request.
- Conducted criminal law work at a leading national firm covering a broad range of criminal matters
Trainee Solicitor - Stevens Solicitors
(2016-01 - 2021-01)
- Completed training contract in criminal litigation; gained Police Station Accreditation and qualified as a solicitor in 2021
Commercial Paralegal - Knights Professional Services
(2016-05 - 2016-09)
- Supported commercial legal matters as a paralegal in a professional services environment
Education
Master of Laws - LLM - Staffordshire University
Legal Practice Course - Staffordshire University
Bachelor of Laws - Law - Keele University
